McCulloch One Name Study

The greater part of Sir Godfrey’s life appears to have been a struggle against increasing insolvency. Though his father was not, perhaps, affluent, he was certainly not financially embarrassed, and it is difficult to account for Sir Godfrey’s difficulties since there is no reason to suppose that he did not live quietly enough. Perhaps his dispute with the Gordons was more expensive to him than is apparent: the question of civil damages was raised in the criminal proceedings. Perhaps, too, he was unwise, like so many others, in his surety obligations. At any rate, by 1684 he was clearly in difficulties and there are many bonds recorded against him, some of them substantial, for instance, one for £7,140 Scots in 1683 to William Cleiland, merchant, burgess of Edinburgh, and two others in 1681 and 1682 for 3200 and 3100 merks respectively to James Dalrymple of Killoch, Clerk of Session, and Sir James Dalrymple of Stair. In 1683 he was compelled to sell Myretoun to Sir William Maxwell of Monreith at a price of 37,740 merks. Sir William also acquired Killasser which had been yet another of the acquisitions of John McCulloch, Sir Godfrey’s grandfather. Ardwell, too, went, but in a somewhat round about manner. Major John McCulloch of Barholm had been forfeited after the Pentland Rising of 1666 and Sir Alexander McCulloch had acquired the gift of his forfeiture, including the estate of Barholm. Sir Godfrey sold this estate to Sir William Maxwell with the lands of Ardwell in warrandice. When the above forfeiture was cancelled at the Restoration, Sir William, of course, lost Barholm, and, consequently became entitled to Ardwell.